Movably mounted dispenser for bulk material

Abstract

A movably mounted supply dispenser for bulk material is provided that has apparatus for mounting a container having inlet and outlet ends on a rack having spaced vertical supports. The mounting apparatus provides translation of a given generally horizontally directed thrust applied against the outlet end of the container into an angular motion of said container having upward components and horizontal components at both the inlet and outlet ends. The upward motion of the inlet end is greater than the upward motion of the outlet end for the given applied horizontal thrust. A system of such containers may also be provided in a freestanding rack allowing for the dispensing of many different bulk products.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A movably mounted dispenser for bulk material, comprising: a container having inlet and outlet ends; a rack having spaced vertical supports; and means intermediate said container and said vertical supports movably mounting said container on said vertical supports and providing translation of a given generally horizontally directed thrust applied against the outlet end of said container into an angular motion of said container having upward components and horizontal components at both the inlet and outlet ends, the upward component of the inlet end being greater than the upward component of the outlet end for the horizontal distance moved by the container, said intermediate mounting means including two pairs of elongated members pivotally mounted at one of their ends to said spaced vertical supports and at the other of their ends to opposing sides of said container adjacent the respective members, all members being parallel when said container is at rest, one pair of said elongated members being located adjacent the outlet end of said container and the other of said pairs being located adjacent the inlet end of said container, the pair of said elongated members at the inlet end being shorter than the pair at the outlet end.   
     
     
       2. A dispenser in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a manually adjustable gate inwardly adjacent said outflow end controlling outward flow of bulk material from said container. 
     
     
       3. A dispenser in accordance with claim 2 further comprising baffle means inwardly adjacent said gate and generally intermediate said gate and bulk material in said container as an adjunct in controlling the outflow of material from said container. 
     
     
       4. A dispenser in accordance with claim 3 wherein said baffle means is movably adjustable to accommodate bulk materials which from time to time may differ in texture. 
     
     
       5. A dispenser in accordance with claim 2 further including a discharge spout attached to the outlet end outwardly adjacent said gate forming a confluence for the bulk material flowing beyond the gate during discharge. 
     
     
       6. A dispenser in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a hinged axis door disposed in the inlet end of said container opposite said outlet end for replenishing the supply of bulk material providing a physical arrangement whereby older material remains intermediate the fresh material and the outlet creating a rotation of the material such that the older material is dispensed before fresh material. 
     
     
       7. A movably mounted dispenser for a bulk product, comprising: a container having front and rear ends;   a rack having spaced vertical supports mounting said container;   an outlet opening adjacent the lower edge of the front end of said container;   a spout adjacent said outlet formed by lower portions of said container creating a narrowing of the container adjacent the opening; and   two pairs of elongated members pivotally mounted at one of their ends to said spaced vertical supports and at the other of their ends to opposing sides of said container adjacent the respective members, all members being parallel when said container is at rest, one pair of said elongated members being located adjacent the front end of said container and the other of said pairs being located adjacent the rear end of said container, the pair of said elongated members at the rear end of said container being shorter than the pair at the front end.